How to Request an Appointment at the Child Mind Institute

Updated

The Child Mind Institute takes appointment requests through its website: look for the "Request an Appointment" link on childmind.org and submit your information there. This route applies to families seeking care at its clinical centers in New York City, San Francisco, and San Mateo. Care is supported by fees for service, with financial aid available, so cost should not be assumed to be free — ask about financial aid as part of the request process.

What the Child Mind Institute's care program covers

Its clinicians provide evidence-based treatment to thousands of children each year through clinical centers and in-school programs. The site lists three locations:

  • New York City
  • San Francisco
  • San Mateo

Beyond individual clinical care, the institute also runs programs that may be relevant depending on your child's needs:

Program What it supports
After-School Groups & Booster Program Self-regulation skills, social skills, positive classroom behaviors
College Success Program Time organization, workload management, problem-solving
School Refusal Parent Training & Coaching Evidence-based parent training for school refusal and avoidance

Steps to request an appointment

  1. Go to childmind.org.
  2. Find and select the "Request an Appointment" link (it appears alongside the description of clinical care).
  3. Provide the requested information about your child and your situation.
  4. Note your preferred clinical center — New York City, San Francisco, or San Mateo — since availability depends on location.
  5. Ask about financial aid if cost is a concern; the site states aid is available alongside fees for service.

Expected result: submitting the request starts the intake process with the clinical team. The site does not publish response times, so treat any timing as unconfirmed until you hear back.

Common sticking points

  • Location limits care. Clinical services are tied to the three listed centers. If you are not in or near those areas, ask what in-school or remote options exist rather than assuming you can be seen locally.
  • "Financial aid available" is not the same as free. Fees for service apply; aid is a separate step you need to raise.
  • The request form is the entry point, not a confirmed appointment. Submitting it does not guarantee a slot or a specific clinician.

If you are not ready for clinical care

The institute also offers free education resources that do not require an appointment — an online Family Resource Center, public awareness campaigns, and toolkits and trainings for educators. These are useful if you are still deciding whether your child needs an evaluation, or if you want to learn about a topic such as ADHD or school refusal before contacting a clinician.